American Values
The ideas that keep a free society from turning soft, cynical, or arbitrary: liberty, law, responsibility, trust, and the chance to build a life through work.
Read the Principles
Free Enterprise
Free enterprise is the system that allows any American – regardless of background – to start a business, offer goods or services, and compete openly in the marketplace. I…
Rule of Law
The rule of law is the principle that society is governed by law rather than by the arbitrary will of any individual, group, or institution. In America, that principle is…
Individual Liberty
Individual liberty is the idea that each person possesses inherent rights that no government can legitimately take away. The Declaration of Independence names life, liber…
Work Ethic
The American work ethic is not simply about working long hours – it is a deep cultural belief that honest, skilled effort has dignity and that hard work is the most relia…
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Innovation and entrepreneurship are among America's most distinctive contributions to world civilization. The United States has produced a disproportionate share of the w…
Civic Responsibility
Civic responsibility is the recognition that self-government is not a spectator sport. A democratic republic like the United States requires informed, engaged citizens wh…